Leinster Rugby v Dragons

JOANN
HOSEY
PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR
BANK OF IRELAND DUBLIN
A VERY WARM WELCOME TO THE 1,200 OF YOU LUCKY ENOUGH TO
BE IN THE RDS ARENA THIS EVENING FOR THIS GUINNESS
PRO14 RAINBOW CUP GAME AGAINST DRAGONS.
This match is a huge step forward
for Leinster Rugby and everyone
associated with the club, as it
welcomes supporters into the RDS
Arena for the first time since the
onset of the pandemic.
The game is the first of the test sporting
events announced by the Government,
and everyone hopes that these test events
go well in the coming weeks and that all
the organisations charged with hosting
them will have safe outcomes.
I would like to express a sincere thank
you to Mick Dawson, Kevin Quinn and
the wider Commercial and Marketing
team. They have put in a huge amount of
time and effort over the last 15 months
to keep Leinster Rugby on track and
ensuring the games went ahead behind
closed doors.
The whole team showed great foresight
in submitting a plan to Government for
a test event like this evening’s, and it’s
brilliant to see such a return on all that
effort.
Credit also must go to the frontline
workers from St. Vincent’s University
Hospital who are at the RDS Arena this
evening as guests of Leinster Rugby.
Their tireless efforts kept us all safe over
the last 15 months, which has not gone
unnoticed, and it is a wonderful gesture
from Leinster Rugby to have them present
at the first game back.
Thank you to Leo Cullen and his staff,
and to Johnny Sexton and all the players
for their performances over the season to
lift our spirits.
There were ups and downs throughout
the campaign, always providing
compelling entertainment no matter
which way the ball bounced. I hope that
all the players enjoy their summer break,
and I want to wish the best of luck to
the players touring South Africa with the
British and Irish Lions this summer and
in the two Tests with Ireland for those
selected by Andy Farrell.
As for the Leinster Rugby Women’s team,
Covid-19 put paid to their chances of
getting out on the pitch, but we must
recognise all the Leinster players and
in particular Sene Naoupu and Linda
Djougang who played so well for Ireland
in the recent Women’s Six Nations.
To the players and coaches leaving
Leinster Rugby this summer, thank you
for all that you have done. We would
love to say farewell in person in front of
a packed RDS, but rest assured we will
all catch up in the future when it is safe
to do so.
Finally to the boys and girls all over
Leinster getting ready to put their school
books down and take part in the Bank of
Ireland Leinster Rugby Summer Camps
and School of Excellence programmes.
We are delighted to play our part in
bringing these camps to life and we hope
you enjoy every minute of them!
Good luck to Leinster tonight and
hopefully see you all at the RDS Arena
next season!
JH
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 9 | From The Ground Up